Two-dimensional computational model of discharge uniformity in radio-frequency-excited CO2 slab lasers with high aspect ratio electrodes

A finite difference scheme for the numerical solution of Maxwell's equations in the time domain is utilized for the optimization of discharge uniformity in radio frequency (RF)-excited CO
₂
slab lasers with high aspect ratio electrodes. The field solver can be coupled to standard RF discharge models. The model may be regarded as a natural generalization of the successful transmission line method to two dimensions.